Garment-fastener.



No. 737,475. PA'IENTED AUG. 25, 1903.

J. E. PRATT. GARMENT FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

.i MM

Patented August 25:1903.

ATENT OFFICE.

JOHN EVAN PRATT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GARNI ENT-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,47' 5, dated `August 25, 1903.

Application fled November 14,1902. Serial No. 131,386. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LJOHN EVAN PRATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention provides a novel form of fastener designed chieily for ladies and misses garments, and particularly for holding the placket of skirts closed under all conditions, the fastener comprising interlocking means to secure the parts when coupled.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modiiication, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective View of a fastener embodying the invention as seen from the rear. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the loop member. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the hook member. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the loop member through the loop, the dotted lines showing the play of the keeper. Fig. 6 is a front view of a modification. Fig. 7 shows a modified form of hook, the shank having an offset near the folded end, the part-s of the bill and shank between the fold and offset being pressed together. Fig. 8 shows a further modification of the hook member, the same being formed of a blank without any fold.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The fastener comprises, essentially, two parts or members,designated,respectively, by the terms loop member and hook member, each being adapted to be secured to the garment or part to be fastened in any determinate way common in devices of this char acter, although, as shown, the parte or mem bers are provided with openings to receive stitching for attachinglike devices to the fabric in the accustomed way.

The hook member consists of a shank l and bill 2, being parts. of a metal blank folded upon itself in the manner substantially as shown. The hook member is formed of sheet metal in order to provide the width necessary in a device of this character. The bill 2 is pressed inward to form one or more projections 3, which are adapted to interlock with corresponding depressions in the keeper of the loop member, so as to secure the parts of the fastener when coupled or engaged. The terminal portion of the bill is bent outward away from the shank 1 to facilitate the entrance of the bill in the loop or space formed between the keeper and plate ofthe loop member.

The loop member comprises a plate 4 and strap or keeper 5, the plate 4 having lateral extensions at its upper end apertured to receive the stitches, so as not to interfere with the free coupling or uncoupling of the parts or members. The lower end of the plate 4. is

bent rearward by means of an offset 6 and is apertured to receive the stitching. The lower end portion of the plate being bent to extend in the rear thereof serves yto hold the intermediate portion of the plate away from the fabric or goods, thereby allowing for the limited play of the strap or keeper 5, which will be explained in detail hereinafter. The strap or keeper 5 is spaced from the plate 4 or extends in front thereof, and a portion is pressed outward to form one or more depressions 7, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, to match with the corresponding part 3 of the hook member, whereby the interlocking of the members when coupled is accomplished. The strap or keeper 5 is located intermediate of the upper and lower ends of the plate 4. and is rigidly connected at one end to said plate and is loosely connected at its opposite end to the other edge of thev plate. The strap 5 is preferably an integral part of the plate et and is folded thereon, the free end portion being bent, as shown at 8,"to embrace the opposite edge of the plate below the lateral extension. The fold between the bent end 8 and the adjacent part of the strap or keeper 5 is of a size to admit of a limited play of the strap or keeper at its free end, so

as to facilitate the coupling and uncoupling of the parts or members comprising the fastener. The strap or keeper 5 is under tension and normally tends to spring away from the plate 4 and its free end, the outward movement being limited by the bent ends 8 coming in contact with the rear side of the plate 4. It will thus be seen that the keeper is adapted to spring and accommodate the spring of the bill' 2, thereby insuring positive interlocking of the parts 3 and 7 under normal conditions. The parts 3 and 7 are made rounding, and hence are adapted to ride upon each other into and out of engagement upon the application of sufficient force. Then the loop member is secured to the garment or other article, its middle portion is held away fromv the fabric by means of the lower rearwardly-bent portion of the plate 4, thereby admitting of theloose or bent end of the strap or keeper 5 moving or having play in the manner stated.

In the construction shown in Fig. 6 the part of the plate-4 below the strap or keeper 5 is extended at its ends, as shown at 9, and these extensions 9 come below the strap or keeper and constitute supporting-shoulders therefor and prevent the said strap or keeper from bending when subjected to severe strain. In all other particulars the loop member is constructed substantially in the manner hereinbefore stated.

In practice the members or parts of the fastener are secured to the article or part to be fastened in any accustomed way, and the parts to be secured are made fast by slipping the bill 2 of the hook member through the loop or beneath the strap or keeper 5, the parts 3 and 7 interlocking and preventing casual loosening or separation of the fastener. The fastener is adapted for a variety of uses, chief among which may be mentioned the securing of the placket of ladies and misses skirts, the prevention of the skirt dragging or sagging at the back, and the creeping upward of the waist, the interlocking of the parts of the fastener `rendering secure the closure of the garment or article to which the fastener may be applied.

Figs. 7 and 8 show a form of hook member which will draw the goods closely over the loop member, so as to completely hide it when the goods to which the loop member is attached is scant or narrow. An offset 10 is formed be'- tween the extremities of the member, so as to throw the end portions in dierent planes. The member shown in Fig. Sis devoid of a fold, one end being the shank and the other end the bill. Fig. 7 shows the blank folded, the shank having the offset and the parts of the bill and shank between the fold and offset pressed together. The interlocking means may be accomplished in any convenient way, the parts 3 and 7 being pressed either inward or outward.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1.. In a fastener of the character described, a loop member comprising a plate and a keeper, the latter being folded upon the plate and having its end portion bent in rear thereof to embrace a part of the` plate to limit the outward movement of the keeper, substantially as described.

2. In a fastener of the character described comprising a hook member and a loop member, the latter comprising a plate and akeeper, said plate having extensions to come beneath the said keeper to support the same, substantially as set forth. y

3. The herein-describedl fastener comprising a hook member formed of a sheet-metal blank folded upon itself and a loop member,

the latter comprising a plate and an integral keeper folded upon the plate and having its free end portion bent to embrace the opposite edge portion of the plate, the lower portion of the plate being extended below the keeper and bent rearward and the keeper and bill of the respective members being provided with an interlocking depression and projection, substantially as specified.

4. In a fastener of the class described, a loop member comprising a plate having an integral lateral extension projected from one edge thereof and folded thereon to provide a keeper, said extension having its end portion bent to embrace the opposite .edge of the plate permitting outward movement of the keeper, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN EVAN PRATT. [L. s]

Witnesses:

HOWARD K. RUDOLPH, EDWARD F. SIMPSON, J r.

IOO 

